Washing machine and control therefor



Janv 13, 1953 v. J. WOOSTER ,62

WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet l EYMEH Ur Verizon JM/aostar Jan. 13, 1953 v. J. WOOSTER 2,625,030

WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 fir 5272b? I ernon J. Wooster Jan. 13, R953 v. J. WOOSTER 2,625,030

WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F .2 5 8/ iY/E]? F m Vrnan J. Master I? Y: g C v Jan. 13, 1953 v. J. WOOSTER 7 2,625,030

WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 73 I26 I l g- 86 65 882 I WW :4 I

I] ii f fi /E2723? V677207Z Jlloosfer Jan. 13, 1953 v. J. WOOSTER 2,625,030

WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 f M4 11:15; I EHZbr 96 .Vrnon J.T/\/ooste r y wym AfQul/W .775

Jan. 13, 1953 v. J. WOOSTER 2,625,030

WASHINGMACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Aug. 1, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Hg. /0 F g.1.!

PUMP com-Rm. can.

[171 2 21 far" Vsemw- J. Woosre'e 'tained.

Patented Jan. 13, 1953 WASHING vMACHINE AND CONTROL THEREFOR Vernon J. Wooster, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of New York Application August 1, 1946, Serial No. 687,624

20 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrically controlled actuating mechanism and more particularly to an electrically controlled mechanism for actuating component parts of a wringer type washing machine.

In the operation of a domestic wringer type washing machine to wash the clothes, wring the clothes and to drain wash water from the wash tub, difierent component parts of the washing machine are brought into play. As some of these component parts, when operating, may interfere with the operation of other component parts, if actuated concurrently therewith, it is important that proper selective operation of the various component parts be obtained. Furthermore, when a certain part of the washing machine is to be brought into play, a dependable means should be provided to bring the part into play quickly and positively.

With the above requirement in mind, I provide a novel electrically controlled actuating mechanism which enables proper selective action of the agitator, i. e., the part that moves the clothes through the wash water during the washing operation, the wringer, and the drain pump in a wringer type washing machine to be ob- Although the wringer can be operated when the agitator or drain pump are operating, normally the wringer will 'be operated alone and my control mechanism provides for such action.

No motion is imparted to the agitator when the drain pump is in operation to drain wash water from the wash tub. Motion of the agitator during the wringing operation is unnecessary while such motion might result in overloading the .agi-

tator driving mechanism when water is being drained ofi by the drain pump if clothes are left in the wash tub and become wrapped around the agitator. My mechanism also causes quick and positive engagement of parts of a washing machine, such as the agitator and the drain pump, with a driving member, such as a'motor, or quick and positive disengagement of the parts therefrom.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrically controlled actuating mechanism for a washing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrically controlled actuating mechanism for quickly and positively engaging parts of a washing machine, such as an agitator and a drain pump, to a motive source or for disengaging said parts from said source.

A further object of the present invention is to 2 provide a new and improved electrically controlled actuating mechanism for selectively or substantially simultaneously actuating parts of a washing machine.

A still further object of the present invention is to'provide a new and improved electrically controlled actuating mechanism including a mechanism for coupling or uncoupling parts of a washing machine, such as an agitator or a drain pump, to or from a motive source and an electrically controlled means for actuating said mechanism.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved elec trically controlled actuating mechanism including a mechanism for coupling or uncoupling parts of a washing machine, such as an agitator or a drain pump, to or from a motive source, and a means, including control bars movable in response to motion of an oscillating member, for actuating said mechanism, said last named means being electrically controlled.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a washing machine housing showing the mechanism for driving and controlling various parts of the washing machine and means to support said mechanism from the walls of said housing;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the control mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view taken on line III-'III of Figure 2 with the agitator drive gear casing shown in cross-section, and shows the mechanism for controlling movement of the agitator;

Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in crosssection, taken on line IVIV of Figure 1 and shows the electrical control means for controlling movement of the agitator coupling and uncoupling means;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure l and shows a control disk forming a part of the control mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an elevational view taken on line VI-VI of Figure 1 and shows the control mechanism for maintaining the drain pump out of driven engagement with the driving motor;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 2 and shows the means for coupling the drain pump to the driving motor;

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of an alternate control mechanism;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IXIX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a plate member used in the control mechanism illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a plan view of another plate member used in the control mechanism illustrated in Figure 8; and

Figure 12 is a schematic wiring diagram showing a control circuit for obtaining sequential action of parts of a washing machine.

One of the principal features of the present invention is a mechanism for imparting axial movement to a pair of guided control bars, the term bars being understood to include bars, rods or any other elongated members capable of being moved axially. This mechanism, which will be described in detail hereafter, may be described generally as follows. Each of the guided control bars is pivotally connected to a swingable arm, there being one such arm for each control The two swingable arms are journalled Thus, each arm is freebar. about a common shaft.

ly movable about the common shaft and each oppositely facing, radially extending abutment surfaces.

Means are provided to oscillate the common shaft and thus cause the hub together with the abutment surfaces thereon to oscillate through a limited arc of movement. By means of an electrical actuating means, a member, which is connected to a swingable arm to impart swinging motion thereto, is moved from the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces whereby the pivotal arm is swung in response to movement of the oscillating shaft. The same arrangement is provided for the other swingable arm. Thus either swingable arm, by means of electrical control, is swung from one extreme position to another extreme position in response to movement of the common shaft. Also, the guided control bars are moved axially in response to movement of said shaft as they are pivotally connected to the swingable arms adjacent the shaft. Having thus given a general description of one of the more important features of my invention I will now proceed to the detailed description.

An angle bar 20 extends between brackets 2| and 22, which are secured to the interior surface of the washing machine housing 23, to form a support for a driving motor 24 and a gear casing 25. The angle bar 20 is connected to brackets 2| and 22 by suitable means such as bolts 26. Extending outward from the angle bar 26 are a pair of arms 21 and 28 which straddle the driving motor 24 and support it. The gear casing 25 is supported from angle bar 20 by means such as bolts 29 and 30.

Positioned beneath the plate 3| is a suitable mechanism, not shown since the exact type of mechanism is not critical to the practice of my invention, for converting rotary motion produced by the driving motor 24 into reciprocating motion, and for rotating the wringer shaft I48 whenever the driving motor 24 is energized. The reciprocating drive mechanism may be a crank and connecting rod (not shown) suitably connected with a sector gear 32 secured irregularly shaped to a vertical shaft 33 and reciprocably driving said shaft 33 to move back and forth in a substantially horizontal plane. The reciprocating drive mechanism may be of a type somewhat similar to that shown and described in Patent No. 2,347,190, which issued on April 25, 1944 to P. E. Geldhof et al. The sector gear 32 is shown as being within the gear casing 25, said casing being formed of an upper casing member 33a and a lower casing member 34 suitably secured together.

An agitator drive shaft 35 extends into the gear casing and is suitably supported thereby for movement about a substantially vertical axis. Surrounding the agitator drive shaft 35, and being within the gear casing 25 is a gear collar 36. The gear collar 36 is at all times in mesh with the sector gear 32 so that the gear collar 36 is continually oscillated whenever the driving motor 24 is energized. Attached to the gear collar 36, and integral therewith is a hub 31 which contains an axial slot 38. In Figure 3, the walls of the slot 38 are shown as engaging a pin 39 which is rigidly connected to and which extends radially outward from the agitator drive shaft 35. Since the hub 31 is rigidly attached to the gear collar 36, when the walls of the slot 38 engage the projecting pin 39, the agitator drive shaft is oscillated in response to oscillating movement of gear collar 36. The latter is, of course, oscillated by the sector gear 32. Thus, in what might be termed .its lowered position, the gear collar 36 drives the agitator drive shaft. However, the gear collar 36 is movable in an axial direction along the agitator drive shaft 35. This movement is, of course, upward to remove the walls of slot 38 from engagement with the projecting pin 39. When this occurs the gear collar 36 oscillates freely about the agitator drive shaft 35.

The mechanism which causes the oscillating gear collar 36 to move upward and out of engagement with the agitator drive shaft 35 is described as follows. A fianged collar 40 surrounds the agitator drive shaft 35 ad is rigidly connected to gear collar 36. A yoke 4| extends between the flanged portion of collar 40 and the gear collar 36. This yoke, of course, also extends to either side of the agitator drive shaft 35. The yoke 4| is rigidly connected to a vertically movable post 42 which is guided for substantially vertical movement by the walls of a well 43 formed in the lower gear casing portion 34 and by the sides of an opening at 44 in the upper casing portion 33a. A roller wheel 45 is positioned in a slot having walls 46 and 47, said slot being positioned in the upper end, as viewed in Figure 3, of the post member 42. A pivot pin 48 supports the roller 45.

A cam surface 49 formed on a cam bar 50, which I refer to as a guided control bar, is brought into contact with the roller 45 to lift the post 42 upward. When this occurs, the yoke 4| engages the flange portion of collar 40 to lift -the gear collar 36 axially upward along shaft 35 thereby disengaging the gear collar from shaft 35. When the cam surface 49 is moved away from roller 45, the gear collar 36 is forced downward by yoke 4| axially along shaft 35 in response to force exerted by biasing spring 5|. It is apparent that biasing spring 5| constantly tends to maintain the gear collar 36 in engagement with the agitator drive shaft thus causing said shaft to oscillate whenever the driving motor 24 is energized. However, normally the gear collar 36 is out of engagement with the agitator drive shaft because the guided control bar is normally in its extended position, i. e, the position in which the yoke 4| is raised up by the control bar 58 thus maintaining the gear collar 36 out of engagement with the drive shaft 35. correspondingly, when the control bar 58 is in retracted position the gear collar 38 is in driving engagement with drive shaft 35. In Figure 3, control bar 58 is shown in solid outline as being in retracted position and in dotted outline as being in extended position.

A drain pump 52, see Figures 6 and 7, is suspended below a portion of the gear case and cover 25. The drain pump 52, which is a centrifugal type pump preferably, has a casing 53. Projecting from one side of this pump casing 53 is a support arm 54 which is pivoted at 55 to the lower casing 34 of the gear casing 25. At the other side of the pump casing a spring 58 is connected, at one end, to a projecting pin 51 on the pump casing and, at the other end, to a bolt 53 which extends through plate 3|. The spring 56 urges the hub casing 53 vertically upward about pivot point 55.

In order to actuate the pump 52, a pump shaft 59 is provided to which is secured a wheel 68. The wheel 68 is positioned substantially vertically below and adjacent to a wheel 6| which is secured to the shaft 62 of thedriving motor 24. I refer to the wheel 6| as the driving wheel and to the wheel 88 as the driven wheel. Although the spring 55 constantly urges the pump casing 53 vertically upward about pivot point 55 and hence tends to bring the driven wheel 31 68 into contact with the driving wheel 5| to operate the pump, the pump is normally disconnected from the driving motor 24 in the following manner. lie on the pump casing 53 to hold the pump casing down enough to space the driven wheel 68 slightly away from the driving wheel 8 l. The guided rod is, in turn, held down by a control bar 55. This latter bar is slidably mounted for axial movement through a guide slot 65 in a bracket member 51 attached to the upper surface of the irregularly shaped plate 3|. A cam surface 88 is formed on the under side of control bar 65 and adjacent one end thereof. It is apparent that when control bar 55 moves to the left, as viewed in Figure 6, the guided rod 63, which is movable vertically in response to the biasing action of spring 55, will ride upward along the cam surface 68. When this occurs, the pump casing is no longer held down and hence this casing pivots upward about pivot point 55 to allow the driven wheel 68 to engage the driving wheel 5i. Hence the pump is actuated when motor 28 is energized. When the control bar 85 holds the pump casing 53 downward and hence holds the driven wheel out of contact with the driving wheel 5 l, I refer to this position of the control bar 55 as its extended position. This is the position shown in Figure 6. When the control bar is moved to allow the rod 53 to ride up on cam surface 68 and hence allow the driven wheel 58 to be engaged by the driving wheel 6!, I refer to this position as the retracted position. The control bar 85 is in retracted position as shown in Figure '7.

The mechanism for moving the control bars 58 and will now be described.

Referring to Figure 2, the control bar 58 has formed integrally on the end thereof remote A guided rod 63 abuts against a shoulder v from cam surface 49, a curved, substantially flat, arm 89. The arm 69 is pivotally connected at 18, see Figure 4, to a swingable arm N. This latter arm is journalled at '12 about shaft 33. When the arm 1| swings about shaft 33 the control bar 58 is moved axially, being guided by the slot walls 48 and 41 and the roller 45, these being in the upper end of post 42.

An electromagnet coil and core assembly 13 is supported on the swingable arm ii for movement about the axis of the shaft 33 by a bracket support 14. An armature l5, movable in response to energization of electromagnet i3, is connected to a pivot post 16 which is pivotally supported on the arm H by upstanding journal members H and 18. By this means of support, armature 15 is movable in a direction generally parallel to the axis of shaft 33 about the axis of pivot post 18. The armature 15 is provided with a thickened portion or upstanding lug 88 at its free end. This lug is adapted to be engaged by an upwardly spaced abutment surface 88 of a hub 8|, mounted on the shaft 33 for reciprocable movement therewith, when 'the armature 15 is energized into an upwardly biased position. Engagement of the lug 88 with the bearing surface 88 will move the armature "i5 and the arm ll sideways about the axis of the shaft 33. When the electromagnet 13 is de'energized, the armature T5 is biased to lowered position by a biasing spring 19 which'i's attached to the pivot post 16. This spring moves the lug 88 into position to be engaged by a downwardly spaced abutment surface 8'1 of the hub portion 8i to more said armature "l5 and, the arm ll sideways in an opposite direction about the axis of the shaft 33.

The hub 8! has formed integrally therewith, and extending radially outward therefrom a pinrality of sector-shaped members 82, 83, 8t, 85, and 9|. Also extending radially outward from the hub portion 8| is a striking finger 86 which is positioned between sector-shaped members 82 and 85. Members 83, 84 and 88 are offset axially from members 82, and 81. An abutment surface 81 is provided on sector-shaped member 82 and a second abutment surface 83 is provided on sector-shaped member 83. The abutment surfaces 81 and 38 face oppositely, as can be seen in Figure 2, and are spaced apart circumferentially enough to allow the pivoted armature 15 to move between the two surfaces. Likewise, the sectorshaped members 84 and 85 have abutment surfaces 89 and 98 formed thereon.

Since the shaft 33 is connected to the reciprocating sector gear 32, said shaft will oscillate in response to movement of the sector gear 32. In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings the shaft 33 oscillates through a 60 degree are of travel. Since the hub portion 8| ls keyed to shaft 33, it, and the sector-shaped members formed integrally therewith, oscillate through an arc of 60 degrees. Therefore, if the thickened portion 38 of armature i5 is moved into the path of movement of either sector-shaped member 82 or 83, it will be struck by one or the other of the abutment surfaces 81 and 88 with the result that the swingable arm ll will be swung through an arc of 60 degrees.

With the foregoing in mind, the operation of the mechanism for actuating control bar 58 can be briefly described as follows. When the control bar is in its normal position, i. e., extended, the sector-shaped member 83 oscillates back and forth across the top of the thickened portion 88 of armature 15. This armature is in its lowered position, in response to force exerted by biasin spring I9, and electromagnet I3 is deenergized. The circumferential spacing between sector shaped members 82 and is chosen so that neither of these members strikes the portion 80 of armature I5 when the control :bar 50 is in extended position. This might be termed a first position of rest.

When the electromagnet I3 is energized, armature "I5 is raised and the thickened portion 80 moves into the path of movement of the sectorshaped member 83. Surface 88 strikes thickened portion 80 to swing the electromagnet assembly on arm II, and with it this arm, through an arc of 60 degrees in a counterclockwise direction. At the end of its travel, the sector-shaped member 63 reverses direction but leaves the swingable arm II in the position into which it has been moved. This position might .be termed a second position of rest. In this position, the sectorshaped member 82 passes under the thickened portion 80 of armature I5 and will continue to pass under said portion as long as the electromagnet I3 is energized. Striking finger 86 will only strike the thickened portion 80 in the event the arm II has overtraveled, i. e., has swung through more than 60 degrees. In this event the striking portion 86 will, in its clockwise movement, and near the end of this movement, strike the portion 80 of armature I5 to move the swingable arm 'II slightly .back toward its first position of rest. In this position, the control bar 50 is in retracted position, hence the agitator drive shaft is coupled to the driving motor 24. Also, this is the position illustrated in Figure 2 in the solid line showing. The position of the swingable arm II when the control bar is in extended position is indicated in dotted outline in Figure 2. This corresponds to what I term the first position of rest while the solid line showing of swingable arm 'II is the second position of rest.

When the electromagnet 'I3 is deenergized, the armature "I5 drops and the thickened portion 80 is moved into the path of movement of sectorshaped member 82. Surface 81 strikes the thickened portion 80 and swings the arm 1I clockwise through an arc of degrees to return it from its second position of rest to its first position of rest. The arm II is not moved back again until the electroinagnet I3 is again energized. In this manner I obtain electro-actuation of the guided control bar and thus control actuation of the agitator drive shaft.

A notch or indentation 92 is provided in a side of control bar 50, as is illsstrated in Figure 2, and a resilient spring finger Q3 has a rounded portion 54 which seats in the notch 92 to yieldably bias control bar 50 against movement when the swingable arm II is in its second position of rest, i. e., when control bar is retracted. In the event that swingable arm II overtravels in going from its first position of rest to its second position of rest the striking finger 86 strikes portion 80 of armature I5 to return the control bar slightly back toward its original position and to allow the spring finger portion 94 to seat in notch 92 and hold the control bar against further movement until the electromagnet I3 is deenergized. Similarly, the portion 94 of spring finger 93 seats in indentation 92a to yieldably bias control bar 50 against movement when it is in extended position.

The mechanism and method of operation described for control bar 50 is duplicated for control bar 65, i. e., the control bar that controls coupling of the drain pump to the driving motor, hence a detailed description of this mechanism and its method of operation is omitted since it would merely duplicate what has been described already. However, by virtue of the control circuit which I will describe later, control bar 65 cannot be moved to its retracted position, i. e., cannot be moved in response to the travel of abutment surface 89 whenever control bar 50 is in its retracted position. This means that the drain pump cannot .be actuated when the agitator is moving. In manner similar to that referred to for control bar 50, I refer to the extended position of control bar 65 as a first position of rest and the retracted position of control bar 65 as a second position of rest.

An alternate construction for swinging the swingable arms about the oscillatable shaft to move the guided control bars axially is shown in Figures 8 and 9. A guided control bar 95 has an arm 96 formed integrally at one end thereof, said arm being pivotally connected at 08 to a swingable arm 91. This construction is the same as that described heretofore. swingable arm 91 is journalled about a shaft 99. A solenoid coil I00 is supported by a bracket [M which is bolted at I02 to the swingable arm 91. The coil I00 surrounds a solenoid plunger I03 which is recessed at I04 adjacent its lower end. The solenoid plunger I03 is movable vertically in response to energization of the solenoid coil I00.

A pair of plates I05 and I06 are keyed to the shaft 99. These plates are of the kind illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, plate I05 is superposed above plate I06 in order to swing the swingable arms 91 and I0! in the proper direction in response to oscillating movement of shaft 99. A spacing disk I08 is placed between the plates I05 and I06. In the operation of this particular embodiment of my invention, the shaft 99 oscillates through an arc of 60 degrees.

Referring more particularly to Figure 11, the plate I06 is, in general, of disk shape and would be a circular disk were it not for the annular portions cut away at I 00 and H0. Because of the cut-away portion at I09, there is an abutment surface III extending substantially radially outward from the hub portion N2 of plate I06. The circumferential length of the portion cut away at I09 is slightly greater than a 60 degree arc so that a member could be positioned adjacent the hub portion II2 without being struck by the abutment surface III or the neck portion H3 when the shaft 99 oscillates.

Likewise, the plate I05 shown in Figure 10, has portions cut away at I I4 and H5, has a hub portion I I6, has a substantially radially extending abutment surface Ill, and a neck portion H6. When the two plates are mounted on shaft 99, they are placed so that the neck portions I I3 and I I8 extend oppositely from each other as is shown in Figure 8. As a result of this positioning, an annular ledge H9 is provided on the upper surface of plate I06 and the curved edge I20 of plate I05 overhangs the cut-away at I09 on the lower plate I06 to form an annular shelf I2I. The abutment surfaces II I and II I, face oppositely, are offset since the plates are superposed, and are spaced apart circumferentially to allow the solenoid plunger portion I22 to move vertically into the path of either of the abutment surfaces.

The same arrangement of parts thus described is provided at the other side of the oscillatable shaft 99, that is, the side adjacent the solenoid coil I23 which controls movement of the pump control bar I24. For this reason, since it would be repetitious to describe the same arrangement again, a detailed description of the configuration of the plates I05 and I06 on the side thereof adjacent solenoid coil I23 is omitted.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive operates in the same manner as the embodiment illustrated in the preceding figures forming a part of this application. The agitator control bar 95 is normally in extended position, i. e., the position in which the agitator drive shaft 35 is disengaged from the driving motor 24. This I term the first position of rest. In this position, which is the position shown in Figures 8 and 9, the shelf i2I on plate I05 passes back and forth, in response to oscillating movement of the shaft 99, through the recess at I04 in the solenoid plunger I03 and over the solenoid plunger portion I22. As shown in Figure 8, the shaft 90, and the plates H35 and I05, have just completed their clockwise movement and are about to move back counterclockwise. Neither the neck portion I I3 nor the abutment surface I II strikes the solenoid plunger portion I22 because these parts of plate I06 are spaced apart circumferentially slightly greater than the 60 degree are of movement of the shaft 39 and because, in the first position of rest of the control bar 95, the abutment surface l I i has just completed its motion clockwise toward the plunger portion I22 and is about to move counterclockwise.

When the solenoid coil I is energized, the solenoid plunger I03 is lifted. The plunger portion I22 moves into the path of movement of abutment surface I 11 on upper plate I35 whereby the solenoid plunger, and hence the swingable arm 01, are swung through a 60 degree arc counterclockwise to retract control bar as and move it to its second position of rest. As long as the solenoid coil I00 is energized, the control bar 35 will stay in its second position of rest and the ledge II 0 will pass back and forth under the solenoid plunger portion I22. I I3 of plate I05 will not strike the solenoid plunger portion I22 unless the latter overtravels, and even if it does strike this plunger portion, it will only move it slightly clockwise to correctly position the control bar 95 in its second position of 6 rest.

When the solenoid coil I00 is deenergized, the plunger portion I 22 drops into the path of movement of the abutment surface III on the lower plate I05. hence the swingable arm 01, are swung clockwise through a 60 degree are to return the control bar 55 from its retracted position, the second position of rest, to its extended position, the first position of rest. When the solenoid coil we is deenergized, the solenoid plunger portion I 22 might ride on ledge II9 until the space between the abutment surfaces III and II"! allows it to drop downward. However, this only momentarily delays the engagement of the abutment surfaces I i i with the solenoid plunger portion I22.

To yieldably bias the control bar 35 in retracted position, the projecting portion I23 on a leaf spring I25 engages the walls of an indentation I21 in a side of the control bar 25. This arrangement acts as a brake to yieldably maintain the control bar in retracted position. Should the control bar overtravel when going from extended to retracted position, the neck portion M3 on plate I05 moves the control bar back slightly The neck portion Thus, the solenoid plunger I33, and

clockwise to allow the spring projecting portion I25 to seat in the indentation I21 thus correcting the overtravel. Similarly, the projecting portion I25 seats in indentation H212 to yieldably bias control bar in extended position.

The pump control bar I 24 is moved axially from extended to retracted position and viceversa in the same manner as has just been described for the agitator control bar 95.

In order to control energization of the electrical elements heretofore mentioned and to obtain proper selective action of parts of the washing machine such as the agitator and the drain pump, an electrical control circuit is provided. This control circuit is shown in the schematic wiring diagram set forth in Figure 12. The motor referred to in Figure 12 is, of course, the driving motor 24. The agitator control coil referred to can be either the electromagnet 13 or the solenoid coil I00 while the pump control coil referred to can be either the electromagnet I28 or the solenoid coil I23. While the electrical leads are not shown in the drawings, specifically in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive, it will be understood that suitable electrical connections will be employed to connect the electrical components in the manner illustrated in Figure 12.

A selector switch I29 is provided which includes a pivotally movable bridging contact arm I30 and stationary contacts I3I, I32, I33, I34 and I35. Stationary contacts I3I, I32 and I33 are interconnected by leads I36 and I31 while the bridging contact arm I30 is connected by a lead I38 to one side of a source of electric power which can be a conventional -115 A. C. source. The motor 24 is connected by a lead I40 to the other side of the source of electric power and the agitator control coil I43 and the pump control coil I44 are connected by leads I4I and I42 to lead I40. The other side of the motor 24 is connected to stationary contact I33 by a lead I39 while the pump control coil is connected to stationary contact I35 by a lead 35 and the agitator control coil I43 is connected to stationary contact I34, through a timer I46, by alead I41.

With the above described connection, when the bridging contact arm I30 is in Wash position, a circuit is completed from side I33 of the electric power source through arm I30, the interconnected contacts I3I, I32 and I33 and lead I39, and through the motor 22 to the other side I40 of the power source. A circuit is also completed through the bridging contact arm I30, stationary contact I34, lead I41 and timer I56 to the agitator control coil M3 and from this control coil through leads I4I and I40 to the other side of the electric power source. Thus the motor 24 and the agitator control coil I43 are connected in parallel when the bridging contact arm I30 is in Wash position. The timer N36 is provided so that the circuit through the agitator control coil I43 can be broken after a predetermined time interval, say a 15 minute washing cycle, without having to move the selector switch arm I30. The exact type of timer is not critical to the practice of my invention it being merely intended that a timer he provided which will break an electrical circuit at the end or a predetermined time interval. Of course, when the selector switch bridging contact arm I30 is in Wash position the driving motor is coupled to the agitator which moves the clothes back and forth through the wash water. The timer E46 breaks the circuit through the agitator 1 1 control coil I43 thus disengaging the agitator drive from the motor even though the latter still remains energized.

When the bridging contact arm I is in Wring" position a circuit is completed from side I38 of the electric power source through the bridging contact arm I30, the inter-connected stationary contacts I32 and I33, through lead I39 to the motor 24 and from the motor through lead I40 to the other side of the electric power source. Thus the motor is energized and the wringer can be brought into operation if desired without having the agitator or the drain pump in operation.

When the selector switch arm I30 is moved to Drain position a circuit is completed through the motor 24 as previously described and a circuit is also completed through bridging arm contact I30, stationary contact I35, lead I45, through the pump control coil I44 and from the coil through leads I42 and I40 to the other side of the electric power source. Thus the motor 24 and the pump control coil I44 are connected in parallel across the source of electric power. In this switch position the drain pump is actuated to drain wash water from the wash tub. Of course, if the selector switch contact arm I30 is moved from Wash position to Drain position, the agitator control coil I 43 is deenergized and the pump control coil I44 is energized substantially simultaneously.

With the above described control circuit, a suitable selection of operations could be as follows. The selector switch arm I30 could be moved to Wash position whereby the agitator element is driven to wash the clothes for a predetermined interval of time. Then the selector switch can be moved to Wring position so that the wringer can be operated without having the agitator element in motion. Following the wringing operation the selector switch arm I30 can be moved to Drain position so that the pump control coil I44 is energized to operate the drain pump and drain wash water from the wash tub. Of course, this is merely an illustrative method of operation and could be varied as desired. However, the control circuit is so arranged that the agitator control coil cannot be energized when the pump control coil is energized. This is a safety feature which prevents the possibility of the agitator I mechanism becoming overloaded, by clothes wrapped thereabout, when the wash water is being drained from the wash tub.

By virtue of my control circuit, the agitator or the drain pump can be selectively coupled to the driving motor 24 for actuation thereby, as has just been described. Also, this circuit causes substantially simultaneous uncoupling of the agitator from the driving motor and coupling of the drain pump to the driving motor or Vice versa.

For example, considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, when the bridging contact arm I30 is in Wash position, the electromagnet I3 is energized and the agitator control bar is in retracted position. As has been described, when control bar 50 is in retracted position, the agitator is coupled to driving motor 24 and is actuated thereby. Electromagnet I28 is deenergized so that the pump control bar 65 is in its extended position and with control bar 65 in this position, as has been described, the drain pump is not coupled to driving motor 24 and hence is not actuated thereby, Now, if switch arm I30 is moved from Wash to Drain position, electromagnet I3 is deenergized and electromagnet I28 is energized substantially simultaneously. This causes movement of agitator control bar 50 from retracted to extended position and movement of pump control bar from extended to retracted position substantially simultaneously and hence causes the agitator to be uncoupled from driving motor 24 and the drain pump to be coupled to the driving motor substantially simultaneously.

Similarly, if the switch arm I30 is moved from Drain to Wash position, electromagnet I28 is deenergized and electromagnet I3 is energized substantially simultaneously. This causes movement of pump control bar 65 from retracted to extended position and movement of agitator control bar 50 from extended to retracted position substantially simultaneously and hence causes the drain pump to be uncoupled from driving motor 24 and the agitator to be coupled to the driving motor substantially simultaneously.

The operation of the control circuit is the same considering the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive.

It will thus be seen that I have illustrated and described a novel electrically controlled mechanism for actuating component parts of a washing machine, such as an agitator and drain pump, in a positive manner, quickly and reliably. Furthermore, these parts are actuated in a manner to prevent interference of one element with the other and to obtain an efficient performance through the complete washing cycle.

While I have shown and described in detail certain embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to be restricted. thereto but that I intend to cover all modifications thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a washing machine, a plurality of guided control bars each of which is adapted to connect a driving to a driven member, a corresponding number of swingable arms, a pivotal connection between each control bar and its corresponding swingable arm whereby said bar is moved axially in response to swinging motion of said swingable arm, a common shaft about which each of said swingable arms is free to move, said shaft being oscillatable during operation of the machine, means to continuously oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, and selectively operable interengaging connections between said arms and shaft at diametrically opposed points positionable, to oppositely swing said swingable arms and effect rectilinear movement of said control bars in either direction, or to permit said control bars to remain at rest in response to movement of said shaft and while said shaft continues to oscillate.

2. In a washing machine, a control mechanism comprisin a pair of guided control bars, an agitator drive movably responsive to movement of one of said control bars, a pump drive movably responsive to movement of the other of said control cars, a pair of swingable arms, one of said control bars being pivotally connected to one of said swingable arms and the other of said control bars being pivotally connected to the other of said swingable arms, both of said control bars being movable axially in response to swinging motion of said swingable arms, a common shaft about which each of said swingable arms is free to move, said shaft being oscillatable, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, said means also serving as a drive means for said agitator drive and opposed selectively operable interengaging connections between said shaft and arms to oppositely swing said swingable arms and rectilinearly move said control bars in response to movement of said shaft and to hold said control bars at rest while said shaft continues to oscillate and thereby to actuate one of said drives and disconnect the other of said drives.

3. In a washing machine, a control mechanism comprising a plurality of guided control bars, a corresponding number of independently swingable arms, a connection between each control bar and its corresponding swingable arm whereby said bar is moved axially in response to swinging motion of said swingable arm, a common shaft about which each of said swingable arms is free to move, said shaft being oscillatable, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, an abutment member secured to said shaft for movement therewith, electrically actuated means mounted on said arms and having abutment members moveable into engagement with said abutment member secured to said shaft,

and means selectively operable to energize said H electrically actuated means to move said abutment members on said arms into position to couple each of said swingable arms to said abutment member on said shaft to swing said arms in response to movement of said oscillatable shaft.

4. In a washing machine, a control mechanism comprising a first guided control bar, a second guided control bar, means to move each of said control bars axially, an oscillatable shaft, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, two pairs of abutment surfaces on said shaft, the surfaces in each pair being offset from each other axially of, said shaft, being faced oppositely, and being spaced circumferentially to allow a member to be moved axially from the path of movement of one abutment surface into the path of movement of the other abutment surface and vice versa, a first means to move the first control bar moving means into one or the other of the paths of movement of one pair of said abutment surfaces whereby said control bar is moved axially in response to movement of the oscillatable shaft, a second means to move the second control bar moving means into one or the other of the paths of movement of the other pair of abutment surfaces whereby said control bar is moved axially in response to movement of the oscillatable shaft, and means selectively operable to oppositely move said first means and said second means simultaneously.

5. A mechanism for imparting axial movement to a guided control bar, said mechanism comprising an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said shaft, a swingable arm connected to said shaft for free movement thereabout, a pivotal connection between said swingable arm and said guided control bar whereby said bar is moved axially when said arm swings, a sector member carried by said oscillatable shaft and projecting radially outward therefrom, said sector member being movable with said shaft, a member connected to said swingable arm moveable into position to be strikingly engaged by said sector to impart swinging motion to said arm, means to move said member selectively into the path of positioned to strike said member upon overtravei thereof, to compensate for overtravel of said control bar.

6. A control mechanism comprising an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said shaft, a swingable arm connected to said shaft for free movement thereabout, a rectiiinearly guided control bar, a pivotal connection between said arm and control bar, means to guide said control bar for axial movement in response to swinging movement of said swingable arm, a pair of sectorshaped members carried by said oscillatable shaft and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said sector-shaped members being offset axially of said shaft with respect to each other and being movable with saidshaft through the limited arc of movement thereof, an actuating member connected to said swingable arm to impart swinging motion thereto, means to move said actuating member into the path of movement of one of said sector-shaped members tobe struck thereby and swing said swingable arm through a limited arc of movement in one direction, and means to move said actuating member into the path of movement of the other sector-shaped member to be struck thereby and swing said swingab-le arm through a limited arc of movement in an opposite direction.

7. A control mechanism comprising an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said shaft, a guided control bar, means to move said control bar axially, a pair of abutment surfaces formed on said shaft, said surfaces being offset axially with respect to each other, being faced oppositely, and being spaced circumferentially to allow a member to. be moved axially of said oscillatable shaft from the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces and vice versa, means to move said control bar moving means into the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces to be struck thereby and move said control bar from one position of rest to a second position of rest, and means to move said control bar moving means into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces to be struck thereby and, move said control bar from the second position of rest back to the first position of rest.

8. A mechanism for imparting axial motion to a guided control bar, said mechanism comprising an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said movement of said sector member for striking engagement thereby whereby the swingable arm, and hence the control bar, is moved in response to movement of said oscillatable shaft, and means shaft, a swingable arm connected to said shaft for'free movement thereabout, a pivotal connection between said arm and said control bar whereby said bar is moved axially when said arm swings, a hub secured to said shaft foroscillating movement therewith, a pair of abutment surfaces formed at the periphery of said hub and extending radially outward from said oscillatable shaft, said abutment surfaces facing oppositely, being offset axially with respect to each other and being spaced apart circumferentially to allow a member to be moved axially of said oscillatable shaft from the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces and vice versa, an electromagnet coil rigidly attached to said swingable arm, a pivotal armature movable in response to energization of said electromagnet coil, said armature being pivoted for axial movement with respect to said oscillatable shaft but being restrained against transverse movement with respect to said swingable arm whereby a force exerted against a side of said pivotal armature swings said swingable arm, means to energize said electromagnet to move said pivoted armature into the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces to be struck thereby and swing said swingable arm from one position of rest to a second position of rest, means to deenergize said electromagnet, and means to bias said pivoted armature when said electromagnet is de-energized into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces whereby the swingable arm is swung from the second position of rest back to the first position of rest.

9. A control mechanism comprising an oscillatable shaft, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, a control bar, means to move said control bar axially, a pair of superposed plates secured to said oscillatable shaft for movement therewith, an abutment surface formed at the periphery of one of said plates, a second abutment surface formed at the periphery of the other of said plates, said abutment surfaces extending radially outward from said oscillatable shaft, being faced oppositely with respect to each other, and being spaced apart circumferentially to allow a member to be moved axially of said oscillatable shaft from the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces and vice versa, means to move said control bar moving means into the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces to move said control bar axially from one position of rest to a second position of rest, and means to move said control bar moving means into the path of movement of the other abutment surface to move said control bar axially from the second position of rest to the first position of rest.

10. A control mechanism comprising an oscillatable shaft, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, a swingable arm connected to said shaft for free movement thereabout, a pivotal connection between said arm and a control bar, means to guide said control bar for axial movement in response to swinging motion of said swingable arm, a pair of superposed plates secured to said oscillatable shaft for movement therewith, an abutment surface formed at the periphery of one of said plates, at second abutment surface formed at the periphery of the other of said plates, said abutment surfaces extending radially'outward from said oscillatable shaft, being faced oppositely with respect to each other, and being spaced "apart circumferentially to allow a member to be moved axially of said oscillatable shaft from the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces and vice versa, an actuating member connected to said swingable arm to impart swinging motion thereto, means to move said actuating member into the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces to swing said swingable arm from one position of rest to a second position of rest, means to move said actuating member into the path of movement of the other abutment surface to swing said swingable arm from the second position of rest to the first position of rest.

11. A control mechanism comprising an oscillatable shaft, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, a swingable arm connected to said shaft for free movement thereabout, a pivotal connection between said arm and a control bar, means to guide said control bar for axial movement in response to swinging motion of said swingable arm, a pair of superposed plates secured to said oscillatable shaft for movement therewith, an abutment surface formed at the periphery of one of said plates, a second abutment surface formed at the periphery of the other of said plates, said abutment surfaces facingoppositely and being spaced apart circumferentially to allow a member to be moved axially of said oscillatable shaft from the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces and vice versa, a solenoid coil rigidly attached to said swingable arm, a solenoid plunger movable axially of said oscillatable shaft, said solenoid coil being de-energized when said swingable arm is in a first position of rest, means to energize said solenoid coil to move the solenoid plunger into the path of movement of one of said abutment surfaces whereby said swingable arm is swung from the first position of rest to a second position of rest, and means to de-energize said solenoid coil to allow the solenoid plunger to fall into the path of movement of the other of said abutment surfaces whereby the swingable arm is swung from its second position of rest into its first position of rest.

12. A control mechanism comprising an oscillatable shaft, means to oscillate said shaft through a limited arc of movement, a guided control bar, means to move said control bar axially, a hub secured to said oscillatable shaft for movement therewith, a pair of sector-shaped members projecting radially outward from said hub, said members being offset axially with respect to each other and beingspaced apart circumferentially from each other, means to move said control bar moving means into the path of movement of one of said sector-shaped members to move said control bar axially from a first position of rest to a second position of rest, and means to move said control bar moving means into the path of movement of the other sectorshaped member to move said control bar axially from the second position of rest to the first position of rest.

13. In a washing machine, an agitator. an agitator drive shaft connected to said agitator to impart motion thereto, an oscillating collar, means to oscillate said collar, means normally biasing said oscillating collar into inter-engaging connection with said agitator drive shaft whereby said agitator is oscillated in response to movement of said oscillating member, a control bar movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said control bar being in retracted position when the agitator is driven by the oscillating collar, an oscillatable shaft, means to oscillate said shaft. a pair of abutment surfaces on said shaft, a member connected to said control bar and movable into position to be struck by either of said abutment surfaces, to impart axial motion to said control bar, means to move said member into the path of movement of one or the other of said abutment surfaces to move the control bar from extended to retracted position and vice versa, and means movably responsive to movement of said control bar to extended position to move said oscillating collar out of engagement with the agitator shaft.

14. In a washing machine, an agitator, an agitator drive shaft connected to said agitator to impart motion thereto, an oscillating member, means to oscillate said member, means normally biasing said oscillating member into interengaging connection with said agitator drive shaft whereby the agitator is oscillated in response to movement of the oscillating member, a control bar movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said control bar being in retractel position when said agitator is driven by said oscillating member, an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said shaft, a swingable arm connected to said shaft for free movement thereabout, a pivotal connection between said swingable arm and said control bar whereby the control bar is moved axially in response to motion of said swingable arm, means positionable to be strikingly engaged by said oscillating shaft to impart swinging movement to said swingable arm whereby said control bar is moved from retracted to extended position, and means movably responsive to movement of said control bar to extended position to move said oscillating member out of engagement with said agitator drive shaft.

15. In a washing machine having a driving motor, an agitator and a drain pump, a control mechanism for selectively coupling said agitator or said drain pump to said driving motor for actuation thereby, said mechanism comprising an agitator control bar, means movable in response to movement of the agitator control bar to couple the agitator to the driving motor, a pump control bar, means movable in response to movement of said pump control bar to couple said pump to the driving motor, an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said shaft, and two swingable arms, one having operative connection with said agitator control bar and the other having operative connection with said pump control bar, and opposed interengaging connections between said shaft and arms to oppositely move said arms to move said agitator control bar or said pump control bar oppositely of each other as required in response to movement of said oscillatable shaft to couple either the agitator or the drain pump to the driving motor and to disconnect the other therefrom.

16. In a washing machine having a driving motor, an agitator uncoupled from said driving motor and a drain pump coupled to said driving motor for actuation thereby, a control mechanism for substantially simultaneously uncoupling said pump from said driving motor and coupling said agitator to said driving motor for actuation thereby, said mechanism comprising an agitator control bar, means movable in response to movement of said agitator control bar to couple said agitator to said driving motor, a pump control bar, means movable in response to movement of said pump control bar to uncouple said pump from said driving motor, an oscillating shaft, means to oscillate said shaft, and two swingable arms actuated to move in opposite directions by oscillation of said shaft and connected to move the agitator control bar and the pump control bar oppositely of each other substantially simultaneously from one position of rest to another in response to movement of said oscillatable shaft to uncouple the pump from said driving motor and couple the agitator to said driving motor and vice versa substantially simultaneously.

17. In a control mechanism adapted to connect a driving and a driven member in driving relation with respect to each other, an oscillating shaft, means for oscillatively driving said shaft, a rectilinearly movable control bar, an operative connection between said control bar and one of said members to bring said members into driving relation with respect to each other upon rectilinear movement of said control bar in one direction, and to disconnect said members upon rectilinear movement of said control bar in an opposite direction, and including oppositely acting abutment means operatively connected with and oscillatably moved by said shaft, an arm mounted on said shaft for free movement about the axis of rotation thereof, an operative connection between said arm and control bar, and a movable member mounted on said arm and selectively movable into position to be struck by either of said abutment means to pivotally move said arm and rectilinearly move said control bar in one direction or another.

18. In a control mechanism adapted to connect a driving and a driven member in driving relation with respect to each other, an oscillating shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, a rectilinearly movable control bar, an operative connection between said control bar and one of said members, to bring said members into driving relation with respect to each other upon movement of said control bar in one direction, and to disconnect said members upon rectilinear movement of said control bar in an opposite direction, oppositely acting abutment means operatively connected with and oscillatably moved by said shaft, an arm pivoted on said shaft for free movement about the axis of oscillation thereof, an operative connection between said arm and control bar, and an electrically actuated abutment member movably mounted on said arm and selectively movable into position to be struck by either of said abutment means to pivotally move said arm and rectilinearly move said control bar in one direction or another.

19. In a control mechanism adapted to connect. a drivin and a driven member in driving relation with respect to each other, an oscillating shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, said means also serving to drive said driving member, a rectiiinearly movable control bar, an operative connection between said control bar and one of said members to bring said members into driving relation with respect to each other upon movement to said control bar in one direction, and disconnect said members upon movement of said control bar in an opposite direction, oppositely acting abutment means associated with and oscillatably moved by said shaft, an arm pivoted on said shaft for free movement about the axis of oscillation thereof, an operative connection between said arm and control bar, an electromagnet mounted on said arm, an armature pivotally mounted on said arm and pivotally moved with respect to said arm upon energization of said electromagnet and having an abutment surface movable into position to be struck by either of said abutment means, dependent upon the energization of said electromagnet, and effecting movement of said arm and control bar from one operative position to another.

20. An interlocking actuating and control mechanism of the type adapted to connect one driven member with its driving member and disconnect another driven member from its driving member and vice versa including an oscillating shaft, means for oscillating said shaft, said means also serving as a drive means for both of said driving members, two oppositely moveable slidably guided rectilinearly movable control bars, an operative connection between one of said con trol bars and one of said members, to bring said members into and out of driving relation with respect to each other upon movement of said control bar in one direction or another, an operative connection between the other said control bars and the other of said members, to bring said other members into and out of driving relation with respect to each other upon movement of said other control bar in one direction or another, two sets of opposed oppositely acting abutment means on said shaft and oscillatively moved thereby, a separate electromagnet connected with each of said control bars and associated with each set of abutment means and each having an armature moveable into engagement with either of said abutment means of each set of abutment means dependent upon the energization of said electromagnets, to effect movement of said control bars in opposite directions With respect to each other upon engagement of said armatures with the respective abutment means, and control means for said magnets connected to energize one of said magnets and deenergize the other. VERNON J. WOOSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,005,093 Wilson Oct. 3, 1911 1,273,719 Arnold July 23, 1918 1,415,200 Sherbondy May 9, 1922 1,714,107 Russell May 21, 1929 1,715,036 Jamouneau May 28, 1929 2,077,578 Neracher Apr. 20, 1937 2,159,513 Taylor Mar. 23, 1939 2,280,047 Nampa Apr. 14, 1942 2,347,190 Geldhof et a1 Apr. 25, 1944 2,357,644 Frantz Sept. 5, 1944 2,385,623 Geldhof Sept. 25, 1945 2,391,561 Geldhof et a1 Dec. 25, 1945 

